Eyeglass cleaner



Sept. 2, 1969 B. CERTO EYEGLAss CLEANER Filed Aug. 21. 1967 //V VEN 7&1? fire/az:- 65er@ United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 15-302 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for cleaning eyeglasses, including a mechanism that first dips the eyeglasses in a cleanin-g solution, then scrubs, rinses and dries the same.

This invention relates generally to devices for cleaning eyeglasses.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an eyeglass cleaning device for use in oices, schools, and the like, the device comprising a unit that may be placed in the corner of a hall or room, such as a water cooler.

Another object is to provide an eyeglass cleaner that automatically works in sequence to wash the eyeglasses rand thereafter dry the same.

Another object is to provide an eyeglass cleaner which is electrically operated, and which may be electrically adjusted to vary the cleaning timing in case the eyeglasses are badly soiled.

Other objects are to provide an eyeglass cleaner which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and eicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side cross sectional view of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion thereof,

FIGURE 3 is a diagramatically end elevation view, and

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional View taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents an eyeglass cleaner according to the present invention wherein there is a cabinet 11 having a downwardly pivotable door 12 on its upper side 13. A slot 14 in the door permits cradle 15 to extend upwardly therethrough, the cradle having a pair of clips 16 into which the temple bars 17 of a pair of eyeglasses 18 may be snapped for securement.

The cradle is secured to an endless chain 19 that travels around a pair of vertically spaced apart sprockets 20' and 21, the latter of which is mounted on a shaft 22 supported at the lower end of a frame 23 that is itted into a tank 24 containing cleaning iluid 25. A spigot 26 on the tank permits removal of the fluid when it gets dirty and requires replacement. A door 27 on the cabinet 11 allows access to the tank for relling purpose.

The upper sprocket 20 is secured on a drive shaft 28 supported on the upper part of frame 23, the shaft 28 being powered by mean-s of a pulley 29 on shaft 48, a

3,464,080 Patented Sept. 2, 1969 ICC pulley 30 on a motor shaft 31 of an electric motor 32, the pulleys being engaged by an endless belt 33.

Another pulley 34 on shaft 28 is engaged by an endless belt 35 with a pulley 36 on a shaft 37 which also carries a fan 38 of a blower unit 39.

A'pair of rotary brushes 40 may be also contained within the uid of the tank, the brushes being rotatable by means of sprockets 41 and chains 42 that are powered from the shaft 22.

An electrical system for operating the mechanism includes a plug 43 that is receivable into an outlet of a house receptacle, an electrical cable 44 from the plug delivering power through a switch 45 and solenoid 46 to the motor. A regulator could be also included to regulate the motor speed.

In operative use, the plug is connected to the power source, and the machine remains idle due to the switch 45 being disengaged. To use, a person secures his eyeglasses on the clips of the cradle, as shown in FIGURE 2, and then depresses the push button 47 causing arm 48 secured to the chain 19 to advance the chain sufficiently so that a lever 49 secured to the chain 19 trips the switch 45 to deliver power to the solenoid and motor. The solenoid pulls on arm 50 causing door 12 to hinge downward out of the way to allow the cradle to move downward through the door opening 51. The cradle movement is caused by the motor driving the drive shaft and sprockets 20 and 21 over which the chain 19 travels. The eyeglasses are thus lowered into the cleaning uid after having passed the blower unit which first blows away all loose or free dirt from the eyeglasses. The brushes then scrub both sides of each eyeglass lens, the cradle then being lifted upwardly to carry the eyeglasses past the blower unit which drys off the glasses. As the cradle approaches the end of its upward travel, the lever liips the switch to shut off the electric power to stop the motor and deactivate the solenoid that now allows the door to pivot again to a closed position.

As shown in FIGURE 3, three leads extend to the motor 32 thus indicating the same being a two directional motor. A circuit has been shown for two of the leads, the circuit including the start switch 45. The third lead suggests that a similar switch is required at the lower end of the machine for being tripped by lever 49, the lower switch reversingthe directional rotation of the motor. Thus without closing switch 45, the motor continues to operate but in a reverse direction as soon as the lever reaches the lower switch. Upon opening of switch 49 on the upward travel of lever 49, the lower switch is understood to be also opened, thus restoring the circuit to a starting position.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. In an eyeglass cleaner, the combination of a cabinet, a door on the upper end thereof, a slot in said door, a cradle extending upward through said slot, clips on said cradle to engage the temple bars of a pair 0f eyeglasses, and said cabinet having means to clean said glasses, said means comprising a tank containing cleaning uid in the bottom of said cabinet, a frame supporting an upper shaft 3 /4 and lower shaft, each of which carries a sprocket with References Cited an endless chain therearound, said lower sprocket being UNITED STATES PATENTS Within said uid, said cradle being secured to said chain, a pair of horizontal, rotatable rotary brushes Within said lhen ""1' uid driven by said lower shaft, including means for 5 2082991 6/1937 Tuon et a' 15:39

electrically powering the shafts to move the e egla'sses through the cabinet to coact with the cleaning 1x1/leans. 3008161 11/1961 Jensen' 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein EDWARD L ROBERTS, Primary Examiner said means includes a blower unit mounted intermediate the upper and lower ends of said cabinet for drying said 10 U.S. Cl. X.R. eyeglasses. 15-21, 311 

